Combination tank vent, flame arrester and snuffer



june 5, 1928. 1,672,042

G. c. SCHMIDT ET AL COMBINATION TANK VENT, FLAME ARRESTER AND SNU FERFiled Aug. 21, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 5, 1928.

G. c. SCHMIDT ET AL COMBINATION TANK VENT, FLAME ARRESTER AND SNUFFERFiled Aug. 21, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Patented June '5, 192a.

- UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE G. SCHMIDT AND FRANK G. D. MULLER, F HOUSTON, TEIAS,-ASSIGNOBS TOTHE STAYTITE OOIIPANY, OI HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OI TEXAS.

COMBINATION TANK VENT, FLAME ARBESTER AND SN UFFER.

Ap' uomu fled August same. Serial No. new).

This invention relatesto new and useful improvements in a combinationtank vent, flame arrester and snufler.

One object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of the characterdescribed specially designed for use in connection with vapor ti httanks, or reservoirs containing evaporatlve fluids such as crudepetroleum or its derivatives and whereby the pressure of vaporsgenerated in the tank, or a partial vacuum within the tank .caused bycondensation, or contraction of vapor within the tank or by thewithdrawal of liquid therefrom may be relieved.

Another object of the inventionis to produce an apparatus of thecharacter described so constructed as to prevent communication of fireto the vapors or fluid within the tanks from the burning vapor on theoutside of the tank, in case of ignition of the latter .by lightning, orotherwise, and the apparatus also embodies a manually operable snufierthrough which the flame, on the outside of the tank, in case of suchigni- 86 tion, may be snuffed out, said snufl'er at the same timermitting the outlet of vapor from the ta and inlet of air into the sameso as to, maintain the pressurewithin the tank within certain limits toprevent the so bursting,-or collapsing of the tank.

A further feature of the invention Is to produce an apparatus of thecharacter described of such design that, in case of high winds, thepressure in the tank will not increased thereby. I J

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particularrelation to cer-v taln novel features of constructlon, operation andarrangement ofwparts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure .1 shows avertical sectional view of the apparatus applied to the tank.

Figure 2 shows a plan view thereof, and Figure 3 shows a cross sectionalview taken on the line 3-3 of Fi re 1.!

Referring now more partlcularly to the drawings, whereinlike numerals ofreference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1designates a tank or reservoir which, except as hereinafter stated, isfluid tight. This may be a crude oil tank or reservoir for containingany pther evaporativefluid. The apparatus, it is understood, may be usedin connection wlth any type of tank or reservoir where it is desired tomaintain a substantially equaipressure within and without the tank, orto prevent the bursting of the tank from excessive pressure within it,or the collapsmg thereof by reason of thev outside air pressure,11103.86 of a vacuum within the tank, or where it is desired, to safelpermit the escape of inflammable vapors rom the tank.

The numeral 2 designates a 'vent tube wh1ch leads up from the top orupper part thereof. v

Fastened to the outer. end of this vent tube there is a valve casing 3,whose upper end is normallv closed by the removable screw plug 4. ormedintegrally with one side of the case there is a tubular. neck 5 intowhich a tubular nip 1e 6 is screwed and integral with said nec there isan inwardly extending shell 7 of semi-circular contour in Ian-view. Thetop and bottom of thls shel have the concentric circular openlngs 8 and9 to receive the annular, valve seats 10 and 11. These seats areanchored in fixed relatio'nby vertical bars 12 which are spaced apartand whose upper end are attached to a ring 13 fitted within and agalnstwhich the cap 4 abuts when screwed into place. The ring 13 has the crossbar 14 forming a hand grip so that when the plug 4 is removedthe ring 13and seats 10 and 11 may be removed as a unit, 'For'this purpose theopening 8 is of a diameter large enough to permit the passage through itof the seat 11. When these parts are removed access to the interior ofthetank 1 is permitted for measuring the fluid therein, or other desiredpurpose.

, Seated on the respective seats 10 and 11 are the disc-like valves 15and'16 which are fixed. against lateral displacement by bars 12 whichform cages for said valves The shell 7 is spaced from the walls of the'caslng 3 forming an air inlet 17 for the vent tube 2.

. Screwed to the outer end of the nipple 6 there is an elbow 18 havingits free end preferably upturned and formed with a valve seat 19 andanchored to said free end of the elbow 18 and surrounding said seat andspaced apart are the inside and outside open work cages 20 and 21 andscrewed into the upper end of the cage 21 and surrounding and abuttingagainst the upper end of the cage 20 there is a screw cap 22.Surrounding the cage 20 there is a fine mesh screen 23 of any suitableforaminated material which acts as a flame arrester in case the vapor onthe outside becomes Ignited by lightning or otherwise and thus preventscommunication of the fire to the inside of the tank and surrounding theouter cage 21 there is'a coarse mesh screen 24 which protects the innerscreen against mechanical injury and prevents the collection of foreignmaterial seated against the seat 19 by an additional pull on the chain29, attached to the lower end of the rod 26, and the flame thus snufledout. When the flame is extinguished the chain 29 may be released and thespring28 will then open the valve 25. The lower end of the rod 26 isprovided with a number of vertical grooves 30 providing outlet passagesfor any fluid that may condense and collect within the a paratus. v Asurroun in hood 31 is fastened to the upper end of t e outer cage 21 andsurrounds and is spaced from the upper end of the screens so as toprotect them from the elements and for the 'further purpose of radiatingheatfrom the said screens In case vapors on the outside become ignited.

With a tank-j wholly or partly filled with petroleum vaporization ofsame will gradually create pressure in the tank until the ressure issuflicient -to lift the valve 16 rom time to time to permit escape ofvapor. The pressure required to lift said valve will depend on theweight of the valve. The vapor thus escaping will then pass out to freeair through the neck 5, the nipple 6, elbow 18 and the screensf In casethe pe- "troleum is drawn off from the tank, or in case of condensationor contraction of vapors therein a partial vaccum will be created in thetank and the outside air pressure will liftthe valve 15 and admit airinto the tank through the passageway 17.

The screens 23 and 24 are disposed out of line with the nipple 6 so thatin case of a high wind the wind will pass through said screens but willnot enter the tank to increase the pressure therein. In case thepressure in the tank should be increased by high wind it might cause thebursting of the tank.

In case the gas escaping should become ig nite'd outside of the tank, asby lightning; the flame will be arrested by the screen 23, as explainedand will not be communicated to the gas or oil within the. tank and theflame may be snuffed out by closing the valve 25, as explainedto preventany sub-- Y stantial injur to the apparatus.

lVhat we c aim is:

1.. An apparatus of the character described havinga laterally disposedpassageway-whose outlet end is turned at an angle to said passagewaandprovided with a valve seat, a cylin rical screen around said seat, avalye within the screen, means normally holding the valve' in openposition, means for manually seating the valve to close said outlet.-

2 An apparatus of the character described having a laterally disposedpassageway whose outlet end is turned at an angle to said passagewaseat, a valve within the screen, means normally holdingthe valve in openposition, means for seating the valve to close said outlet, and a hoodattached to and surrounding and spaced from the outer end of saidscreen.

3. An apparatus of the character described formed with a'passagewayprovided with valve seats, one above the other, valves controlling saidseats and adapted one to be opened by fluid pressure exerted one waythrough the passageway and the other to be opened by fluid pressureexerted the other passageway, a va ve for controlling said outlet end,means normally holding said last named valve open and manual means forclosing said valve.

5. An apparatus of the character described formed with a passagewayprovided with valve seats, valves controlling said seats and adapted oneto be opened by fluid pressure exerted one way through said passagewayand the other to be opened b fluid pressure exerted the other way througsaid passageway, the outlet end of said passageway being upturned andformed with a valve seat, a snufler valve for cont-rolling said outletseat, means normally holding the and provided with a valve seat, a cylinrical screen around said 'snuffer valve open, manual means connectedwith valve seats, valves controlling said seats and adapted one to beopened by fluid pressure exerted one way through said passageway and theother to be opened by fluid pressure exerted the other way through saidpassageway, the outlet end of said passageway being upturned and formedwith a' valve seat, a snuffer valve for controlling said outlet seat,means normally holding-the snufier' valve open, manual means connectedto the snufi'er valve and through which it may be seated and a screensurrounding said snufler valve and its seat.

7. Anapparatus of the character described formed with apassagewayprovided with valve seats, valves controlling -said seats andadapted one to be opened by fluid pressure exerted one way through. saidpassageway and the other to be opened by fluidpressure exerted the otherway through said passageway 'theuoutlet end of said passage beingupturned andformed with a valve seat, ,a snufier valve for controllingsaid outlet seat, means normally holding the snufler valve open, a.manual'means connected to the snufi'er valve and through which it maybe seated and a plurality of screens spaced apart and surrounding saidsnufl'er valve and seat.

, -8..An apparatus of the character described formed with a laterallydisposed passageway whose outer end is upturned and formed with anoutlet valve seat, a screen around said seat and disposed above saidpassageway, a manually operable valve for closing said seat andmeansnormally hold-t ing sa1d valve in open osition.

9 An apparatus 0 the character described formed with a laterallydisposed passageway whose outer end is upturned and 1 formed with anoutlet valve seat, a screen around said seat and disposed above saidpassageway, a manually operable valve for closing said seat, and-meansnormally holding said valve in open position, valve seats within saidpassageway,-valves controlling said last named seats and adapted one tobe opened by fluid pressure exerted one way through said passageway andthe other by fluid pressure exerted the otherway through saidpassageway.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names.

GEORGE o. SCHMIDT. FRANK n. MULLER.

